Electric lighter



July 20, 1937. F. w. SCHREIBER ELECTRIC LIGHTER F-iled Aug. 10, 1936 ATTORNEYS Patented July 20, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT 3 Claims.

The invention relates to a cigar or cigarette lighter and more especially to electric cigar or cigarette lighters.

The primary object of the invention is the 5 provision of'a lighter of this character, wherein the body or" the same is indicative of an image, for example, an animal such as an elephant, donkey or other species and within the body of such image is arranged mechanism for controlling an electric current to supply an electric lighting unit and such current is turned on and off by a switch, the latter operable from an ear of the animal or any other movable part of the anatomy if found desirable, the lighter being a novelty and is useful to smokers for the lighting of cigars or cigarettes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lighter of this character, wherein the appearance thereof is attractive and the same is readily portable and most useful to smokers in that cigars and cigarettes can be conveniently lighted, the lighter being electrically controlled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lighter of this character, wherein the make-up of the same aiiords the use thereof as an ornament and at the same time gives service as an electric lighter for use by cigar and cigarette smokers.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a lighter of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, light in Weight yet strong and. durable, easy of handling, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional View through a lighter constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of lighter.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figures 1 and 2, the lighter comprises an image 55 A, in this instance being the representation of an is a sectional view on the line 2--2 elephant and its body 5 is hollow, made in two halves lengthwise, the halves being bolted together as at 6 so that access may be had to the interior when desired while arranged t the trunk l in the free end. thereof is an e c lighter unit 8, the electric wires 'i for electric current to the unit 3 being arranged interiorly of the body 5 suitably trained therein and are carried to without the said body and have connection with a separable or detachable socket plug it for the attachment to a source of current supply as, for example, that of a wiring system within a bui1ding or the like.

Associated with the wires 9 is a resistor H which is arranged interiorly of the hollow body 5 and suitably fixed therein, the current to the unit 8 being controlled by a toggle switch i2 which is arranged within the hollow body and its toggle lever It for the turning on and off of the switch is operated in a manner presently described.

Journaled transversely through the head of the image A is a two-part operating shaft M, the parts being separably joined with each other by a clutch connection it, one part being fitted with a crank it to which is pivotally connected a link H, the same also being pivotally connected to the toggle lever it. On the turning of the shaft i l the switch I2 can be turned on or oi? as required.

In this instance the two parts of the shaft l l eXteriorly of the head of the image A have fixed thereto ears l8, these being the hand pieces for manual manipulation to effect the turning on and off of the switch. When the switch is on the lighting unit 8 is active so that it can be utilized as a cigar or cigarette lighter when the switch is turned off the lighting unit is out.

To retain the parts of the shaft i i interfitted or coupled by the clutch it there is provided clips 89 which engage with the parts of the shaft and prevent lateral play thereof when fitting the head of the image.

The trunk 1 may be of the flexible or rigid kind.

In Figure 3 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification wherein the image B is representative of a donkey and within the mouth of such image is the lighting unit ill of the electric kind and such unit is controlled and operated similarly to the unit 8.

In the making of the image body it is, of course, understood that the same is so constructed to permit the internal assembly of the electrical equipment for the servicing of the electric lighting unit 8 or 2B.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing the clips [9 have contact with washers 2| which are seated against abutments 22 interiorly of the head of the image A.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of use of the device will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended-ex'planation has been omitted.

The resistor H and the switch [2 are carried interiorly of the body 5 and are fastened to one of its half sections in any suitable manner.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of the kind described comprising an image having a hollow body, an electrically operated cigar and cigarette lighter fitted with said image, a switch interiorly of the image for controlling electric current to said lighter, movable hand engaging means eXteriorly of the body at opposite sides of the latter for actuating said switch and imitative of movable portions of the anatomy congruous with the image, and a resistor interiorly of the hollow body and included with the electrical connections between the switch and the lighter.

2. An article of the kind described comprising an image having a hollow body, an electrically operated cigar and cigarette lighter fitted with said image, a switch interiorly of the image for controlling electric current to said lighter, movable hand engaging means exteriorly of the body at opposite sides of the latter for actuating said switch and imitative of movable portions of the anatomy congruous with the image, a resistor interiorly of the hollow body and included with the electrical connections between the switch and the lighter, and a turning shaft including separable parts for carrying said means.

3. An article of the kind described comprising an image having a hollow body, an electrically operated cigar and cigarette lighter fitted with said image, a switch interiorly of the image for controlling electric current to said lighter, movable hand engaging means exteriorly of the body at opposite sides of the latter for actuating said switch and imitative of movable portions of the anatomy congruous with the image, a resistor interiorly of the hollow body and included with I the electrical connections between the switch and the lighter, a turning shaft including separable parts for carrying said means, and a separable plug included in said electrical connections and exteriorly of the body.

FRANK W, SCHREIBER. 

